Hey Everyone,

I have a few questions. First, how easy is it to get a train to Versailles, and how often do they go there?

How much of a concern are belly button rings going through airports? Will it cause problems with the metal detectors?

Thanks

I took the RER to Versailles. It's very frequent.

Though there's three separate rail lines to Versailles, yes the RER (ligne C) is the best as it has service about every 15 minutes or so and terminates within a few blocks of the palace. From any metro station you can connect with RER C so buy a ticket from any metro station to Versailles and back ("aller et retour" to save hassle buying your return ticket.

Actually and i don't have all the details i think you can buy attraction/ride tickets at metro stations covering metro and RER travel there and back as well as an entry ticket for the palace - saving a potential wait in line. Paris Museum passes are also good at Versailles. www.chateaudeversailles.com

On many weekends the fountains in the gardens are working en masse with classical music piped in so some folks like to go on weekends though in summer palace can be more crowded then. Closed on Mon.

The Versailles Rive Gauche station on the RER C line is the closest to the palace. Note that the C line divides west of Paris. Trains named VICK go to Versailles RG. A single ticket (also good for transfers to and from the Metro) from central Paris to Versailles costs 2.75 EUR.

You can also buy a combination ticket that covers the transportation (RER ligne C) to Versailles Rive Gauche and entry into the chateau. We purchased this last Friday and I think it cost 18-19 Euros per person. This covered entry into the chateau, the Trianons, and the park. There was also a reduction in the fare for the petit trains to take around the park and to the Trianons.

Interestingly nobody responded to the belly button thing.

You'll be fine. They won't set of the alarms any more than earrings do and I've seen some big-ass earrings go though.

That would be the SNCF <i>Forfait Loisirs</i> (leisure package). Here's the stuff:

http://www.transilien.com/FR/TouVers.htm

Bookmarking

Don't forget that there's also bus service to Versailles.

The bus does seem to stop the closest to Versailles. I've taken 2 of the 3 trains, and I honestly preferred the bus.

could you tell us more about the bus? where do you take it?

If you are going this weekend or next (April 14, 15) be aware that the line C to Rive Gauche is closed. You will be redirected to Gare Montparnasse station and a suburban train which will take you to Versailles Chantiers station which is a 15 minute walk to the palace. Only after standing on the platform for quite a while waiting for a train that wasn't coming did we realize that there was a problem. The RER ticket was honored on the alternate train.

Hi

My wife and I took the train to Versailles last year and we didn't have too much trouble with that. I have posted a bit of information about our trip to Versailles in my trip report (with pictures and links) on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Pont de Sevres metro station i believe for the bus. Long ago before RER C went there this was the way mentioned by most guidebooks - metro to Pont de Sevres and i believe walk across the Seine bridge and catch the bus. I would think this way takes much longer and can't get you much closer than the RER Versailles station near the entrance.

Gard, thanks for the link to your trip report...your pictures are great!